Loving Lately: Gear and Products I’m using this season

Every once and a while I stumble upon some products that are new-to-me that I really like and think are worthwhile to share with you all! Lately there are a few nutritional supplements and gear I’ve been digging and think are great! Most of these items I’ve purchased with my own money and am not getting any kickback for promoting.

Early in the Spring I found myself feeling rundown with a subtle but prolonged cold. I’ve always supplemented with Calcium, Vitamin D and C and Iron, but I felt like I needed something mor so I started looking around for immune support supplements. I’d heard a lot about the benefits of mushrooms and even tried some of the powdered mixes you add to coffee or tea, but didn’t like that they had stevia added. My search eventually brought me to the ONNIT and their Shroom Tech Support.

I haven’t gotten sick since starting to take the product (this could be totally coincidental and may be due more to the season change than taking the supplement), but a few of my kiddos have gotten a cold at the beginning of the summer and I’ve stayed healthy. With supplements it is really hard to know if anything is making a difference, but I’ll continue with it since I’m generally feeling better.

This is my new favorite product. I started taking this Endure Elite PerformElite pre-workout formula prior to races and workouts at the recommendation of my coach. It’s a potent combo of caffeine and beet root powder and it certainly puts a pep in my step which is especially handy for those 5 am intense workouts. I’ve also noticed smoother starts at races because I don’t have that initial “dead-leg” feeling that you can get sometimes.

I’ve always shied away from pre-workout type supplements, but this has become part of my pre-race routine and I plan to continue with it.

Tailwind recently sent me a sample of their new Recovery mix and I was eager to try it after some of my longer trail runs. Typically I run early in the morning prior to eating anything and then immediately refuel with a hearty breakfast. I drive to quite a few of my trail runs so the recovery mix is a great substitute for a meal post run.

I’ve used Vega Recovery in the past, but I like that Tailwind is a more substantial recovery mix with more than twice as much protein (10g vs 4g) and more calories (240 vs 80). It’s a great go-to post-run drink to refuel if a whole-food meal isn’t possible.

Gatorade Endurance recently sent me a sample of their newest flavors: Watermelon Thirst Quencher Powder and Mango Energy Gels. I’m usually not a fan anything watermelon-flavored (other than real watermelon) because it is always so reminciedt of chapstick. But for whatever reason the saltiness combine with the watermelon taste makes it perfect.

I used the Thirst Quencher Powder in my bottles at the UA Copper Mountain 25K and took the mango gels along course. With twice the sodium and three times the potassium of normal gatorade this formula is designed for endurance athletes.

Competition crop tops aren’t just for elite runners anymore! I love that more companies are putting out cute crop bras. There’s something about running in a crop bra that makes me feel fierce and fast and I love this hot coral color from Under Armour.

The cut on this bra is super flattering: the band in the front is wide and extends down to the crop length while the back of the band is slightly higher. The straps are cut in a way to ensure that there will be no chaffing. I’ve worn this top for several races now and each time I’ve been totally comfortable.

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I’ve heard SO much about the benefits of mushrooms too – it seems to be the new trend but sounds like it’s working for you. My husband wants to try this so I’m going to give it to him first 🙂 And I LOVE that crop bra! I’m limited to bike shirts or full kits when I race but I know a trail race coming up that I could totally rock that at…:-)